A former Atlanta Public Schools technology director indicted last week by federal prosecutors has been released on $25,000 bond.
Willie Jerome Oberlton, the former chief information officer, is one of two people accused of taking kick-backs for ushering a $780,000 school district data warehousing project contract to an un-named company.
“Oberlton was entrusted with overseeing a program designed to centralize student data,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “Rather than ensuring that vendors were selected based upon what was best for the school system the defendants are charged with using Oberlton’s public position to line their private pockets.”
Oberlton and Mahendra Patel — whom federal officials have identified as Oberlton’s friend — were charged with conspiracy to defraud APS, conspiracy under the color of official right, money laundering, money laundering conspiracy and mail fraud.
Oberlton alone was charged on the indictment with bribery and wire fraud.
According to federal prosecutors, Patel and Oberlton set up two bogus companies between 2006 and 2008 to facilitate what amounted to $60,000 in payoffs for influencing the school district’s decision to choose the company that would centralize the district’s digital information, including school records, storing it in a secure, easily-accessible manner.
Oberlton worked for APS from 2004 to 2007. He recently resigned from a post at the Dallas School District after learning of the looming indictment.
Patel faces 85 years in federal prison and Oberlton could be sentenced to as much as 105 years in prison, according to court officials.
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